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The importance of Mother Cow donation in Hindu rituals; believed to benefit the deceased one
NP Upadhyaya
Now that I have already experienced two mental shocks of the highest order, I could tell my friends who are yet to receive such shocks of the sort of what I experienced a fortnight back-the second one in succession, as to what the "parental" care meant to the men who control and are supposed to regulate the ancestral lineage. I wish my friends would not have to go through this ordeal and pain. May Almighty bless my friends and others alike.
To come to the point, I am now parentless person for both my father and mother have left for their heavenly abode.
This is not that I am the only one that have lost my parents, so many others too could have experienced the same agony and metal torture after the sudden demise of one's parents.
My mother dies some four years ago. This was a time close on the heels of the death of King Birendra.
This year on June 3, 2005, my august father Shri Bhola Prasad Aryal died of brain-illness.
In effect, this story should not have been written as this writing affects me and my family and not others. Nevertheless, I dare to pen it here to tell my readers as to what lessons we have had learnt from him while he was alive.
The first lesson that I learnt from him was not to compromise on matters that have impact on the society as a whole. The second thing that I learnt from him was that if one cannot be of benefit to others then one possessed no right or whatsoever to damage others by one's deeds and words.
The third thing that I copied from him was that never hate your juniors, poverty stricken people and wish all the best to all those whom you might not know personally.
The fourth what not only me but others also learnt from him was to have regular two hour-long morning-walk. He was of the opinion that walking in speed for over an hour or so would do away with most of the ailments that one might have in him. For example, he managed control over diabetes and even high blood pressure. However, my own belief is that don't trust hypertension. It might attack you any time and you are close to finish. If you are under medication then continue with medicine in addition to what you walk every morning.
My father was the victim of hypertension since he arrogantly concluded that his regular walking would bring every thing under control. Here he was mistaken. Some two years back he was having a brain hemorrhage the consequences of which finally took his precious life.
Hindu traditions are mind-boggling. The sons of the deceased have to sit, sleep and dine completely in isolation. No body should touch them nor they are allowed to touch others, for example, the visitors who come to you to offer condolence.
The process thus continues for twelve days. These days could not be described in terms, as it is difficult to explain as to how the sons of the deceased ones bear and comply with the stringent and rigorous rules and regulations that are governed by Hindu traditions. However, one is bound to observe and hence no hanky-panky.
Me any my two elder brothers went through this ordeal hoping that our penance in this material world will allow our deceased creator comfort in the heaven. So be it as this is the Hindu belief.
The other interesting part of our tradition is the donation of a cow and a calf to a chosen and selected priest.
This is accomplished with great fervor and devotion as such donations of the mother cow and the calf, runs the belief, that while reroute to heaven the deceased ones can easily cross an ocean of unimaginable width by catching the tail of the said cow or for that matter the calf. Surprising though it may appear but this is our longstanding tradition kept alive even by a simple journalist like others and me as well.
The third process is related with the donation of a full set of the things used by the deceased one. For example, this comprises, a cot with well-furnished bed with cover and net; umbrella, utensils, ornaments like gold ring and the likes. Indeed rice and lentils and other materials that are needed in a kitchen too comprise the hefty list of donations. The cost? Don't ask. The wearer knows where the shoe pinches.
Such donations are believed to be made to ensure that the deceased one has every thing in his possession even if he were not present in this material world. The assumption is that the deceased one can manage foods both meals a day if such donations were provided to the priest. We did all that was commanded to us by the protectors of the religion.
As is the process elsewhere, friends and relatives here and there condole the death with their presence in person. Those who can't, send emails, letters and send messages through some trusted ones.
In the process I am highly grateful to King Gyanedra who took time and pains to send a condolence message on the sad demise of my father. I thank you Your Majesty for your kind words contained in the message. The letter came to my office in Kathmandu but I was busy in the rituals in my hometown-Biratnagar. Minister Tanka Dhakal with whom I never have had any acquaintance in the past too remembered me in my time of grief. Thanks.
Likewise, many foreign and national friends sent condolence messages to me. For example, the Israeli Ambassador, and the Bangladesh Ambassador, to name a few, were kind enough to understand my pain at this painful moment. Salom and Dhonyabad to the respective diplomats
Newspapermen like Pushpa Pradhan, Pushkar lal Shrestha, Lok Dip Thapa, Kabir Rana, Ed. The Gorkha Patra, Dilli Ram Nirvik, Keshav Karki Rajendra B. Shrestha and Ram Pradhan were the ones who printed short news on my father's death. Thanks to you my entire dear ones.
Similarly, Mohan Gopal Khetan was the one single personality from the business community to join me in my moment of grief. Thanks Mr. Khetan.
Those who could not reach to me also deserve thanks.
My special thanks are due to the staffs of the Nepalnews.Com who promptly circulated the sad news on the Internet in their website.
All the best to you all for your kind words.
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